updated 05:50 pm EDT, Sat September 10, 2011

Ford AppLink to get Spotify streaming

Ford has reached a deal with Spotify to integrate its Internet music streaming into AppLink. Drivers with Sync-equipped cars will have the option of controlling at least some parts of Spotify through the car's center stack and voice commands rather than having to use an iPhone or Android phone. The two haven't said when it will be ready.

Neither side has said whether Spotify's offline caching will work. Full use of Internet audio services on AppLink so far demands either an iPad or iPhone with a 3G connection.

The service already has links to Pandora, Stitcher, and other primarily audio-focused apps. Only some Ford cars have full AppLink support at present, but ten more models are due to carry it for the 2012 model year.